Waving sign



Oct. 14, 1941. R. B. FERREBY 2,258,601

WAVING SIGN Filed Nov. 22, 1937 e sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1941. R, B. FERREBY WAVING SIGN Filed NOV. 22, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 6. zml .J M 4 IA f y m Oct. 14, 1941.

RAB. FERREBY WAVING SIGN 4Filed. NOV. 22, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 wlIIl,null/lllnnllllllll' Lf mw j@ ,fm ,om

oct. 14, 1941. R. B. FERREBY 2,258,601

WAVING S IGN Filed Nov. e, l1937 e sheets-sheet e Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WAVING SIGN Bol-la. Ferreby, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,769

18 '.Claims.

",'This invention relates to moving signs, and particularly to Athe vtype Jof sign in which the parts-composing a lfigure Aor word, are capable of lateral` movement.

kOne of "the 4objects of the invention is `to produce a sign 'of 'this character, in which the parts are so controlled that vin reciprocating 4them across` the sign, they `will be tilted progressively Vso as to `,obtain the4 effect of' a wave passing through thev sign.

ifmoth'er object "oi the ,invention is to provide simple mechanism Tor effecting the `reciprocation of the letters, and which will operate in such away that when a letter arrives at the end of its travel and commences. to return, it

Will be tilted in an oppositedirection from that in Wlhich-.itrwas tilted when the letter .arrived vat the, .end of itstrav'el, itherebyienablnga `true wave e'iect tobe .attained in the operation of the sign.

. .Aturther object of .the inventionis 'to .provide simple mechanism .for .moving the letters composing a word, so as to attain .the effect of a Wave passing through a word, .and .at lthe .same time, to maintain .each letter .so that -its vertical axis` is .substantially .at .right :angles to the .axis of `the wave, .in .the case .of. Aa horizontal sign; andfin which the vertical axis .of .each ,letter in a vertical .sign will be maintained .substantially parallel' they longitudinal .axis of the wave.. 6.

.A further objectof .the invention .is to `-provide a mechanism for reci-procatmg and tilting `the letters. of :a horizontal sign, which readily adapts itself for effecting the oounterbalanci-ng .of the Weight .of -the letters.

One .of the-obectsof `the invention :as applied to .the vertical type of sign,..is to provide enicient means -for `suspemzling .thefletters, operating to below the lei/fel Aof the :sign rfor :im-parting a ver-1 tical reciprocating movement to the letters ofA the sign, and at the same time, .a ytilting movement to.-.attain -a Wave eieot in `the operation-of thesign.

1 Further objects .of the -invention hereinafter. l

4"The 'invention consists in the novel parts and will :appear combination of parts to be ydescribed hereinafter, all of which lcontribute to producev an efficient waving sign.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the sign embodying my invention, and showing the letters ldisposed along a wave line such as the letters will assume in the operation of the sign.

Fig. 2 is a verticalr section taken at the lower end of the vframe lor casing of the sign illustra-ted in Fig. l. This view is upon an enlarged scale and illustrates a type of cam mechanism which I may employ for effecting the reciprocation of the letters and the tilting thereof to attain a wave eiiect. In this View certain parts are broken away.

Fig. 3is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, and is a partial elevation of the outer side of the same with part of its frame plat-e broken away so as to illustrate the driving mechanism for the letter in a different position from lthat illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 4is a horizontal cross-section upon an enlarged scale, taken about on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and further illustrating `details of the driving mechanism. H

Fig. y5 is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale taken about'on the line 5-5 of Fig. .2, and urther illustrating details of the sign construc- Fig. 6' 'is a front elevation of a sign of horizontal type, and illustrating the letters forming the word extending along a Wave line.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the left end of the sign shown in Fig. '6 upon an enlarged scale, 0:

certain `parts being broken away and others shown in section. In this view a portion .of the face plate of Athe sign is broken away to ,disclose the driving .mechanism for therst letter of this u sign.

f stead of at the Fig. 8 is a horizontal section upon an enlarged scale vtaken about on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. .9 is a viewsomewhat similarto Fig. .2, but illustrating another embodiment of `theinvention as regards the means for .effecting Ithe tilting vof the letter;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating mechanism in an intermediate position inend of travel of the letter as in` Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken about on the line II-I I of Fig. 9 upon an enlarged scale, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 12 is a section through the letter carriage, taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating another embodiment of the mechanism, i1- lustrating counterbalancing means for the letter.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through a horizontal type of sign, and illustrating another embodiment of the mechanism for reciprocating a letter, and for tilting the same; and this view also illustrates an elongated cam construction with means to cooperate with the driving mechanism to facilitate the passage of the cam roller along the cam at its ends. This view also illustrates another type of counterbalancing means.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig, 14, but showing the mechanism in a different position, and further illustrating the action of the urging means that urges the cam roller forward at the lower end of the cam.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal cross-section upon an enlarged scale, taken on the line I6-I6 of Fig. 15, and illustrating a self-cleaning type of cam, which may be employed in the constructions illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of mechanism showing the bottom plate of a horizontal sign in section, and particularly illustrating a construction that may be employed for vertically reciprocating and tilting the letters of a horizontal sign to attain a wave effect, and also illustrating how such a mechanism can be employed from a position below this sign to control the letters of the sign.

Fig. 18 is a View of the same nature as Fig. 17, but illustrating another embodiment of mechanism for enabling the letters of the sign to be controlled from a point below the sign; at the same time, enabling the reciprocating and tilting elect to be imparted to the letters to attain the desired wave effect through the word formed by the letters.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of this invention, it should be stated that it involves the construction of signs such as street signs, or advertising signs, and is applied to a type of sign in which the letters composing the words are independently movable. In accordance with the invention, the letters composing a word are capable of progressive movement in a lateral direction with respect to th e direction in which theword extends, and during this lateral movement the letters are tilted progressively so as to attain the eifect of a wave passing longitudinally through the word. In the construction of vertical signs, the letters, of course, move in a horizontal direction, and it is unnecessary to counterbalance them. In horizontal signs, however, the letters are counterbalanced.

In practicing the invention, the letters are mounted so that they are capable of tilting on an axis. As each letter moves through its transverse travel, it is tipped progressively, and when a letter arrives at the end of its travel in one direction it, of course, commences to move in the opposite direction and is progressively tilted in a reverse manner.

In Figs. 1-3 inclusive, I illustrate an embodiment of the invention as applied to a vertical sign. This sign has a casing I for housing the mechanism for driving the letters 2, said letters being exposed at a face plate or frame plate 3 which preferably forms a forward wall of the casing. The letters 2 are supported on letter brackets ll respectively. Each of these brackets preferably includes an inner arm 5 that is mounted to tilt on a reciprocating carriage 6. Each bracket includes a pair of arms 'I, which extend out respectively through slots 8 in the face plates 3. In this connection it should be understood that a vertical sign usually projects out from the front of a building, and with this type of sign it is feasible to provide two face plates 3 and two sets of letters spelling a word, disposed on opposite sides of the sign.

The carriage 6 is guided to slide on suitable guide means, preferably comprising two or more guide bars 9 disposed in a substantially horizontal position, and the carriage 6 is preferably provided with anti-friction rollers I9 running on these bars.

In order to reciprocate the carriage and at the same time provide for tilting each letter, I provide a rotary shaft I I (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which shaft extends through the center of a fixed cam I2, the end of the shaft being provided With a guide sleeve I3 through which a cam bar I4 slides freely. This cam bar constitutes a cam follower and preferably includes a roller I5 at its inner end, that rolls in the race-way I6 of the cam. The cam for a vertical sign is elongated on its vertical diameter, preferably substantially as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The end of the cam bar remote from the roller is attached by a pivot pin I'I to a connecting rod I8, and this connecting rod is attached at its outer end to the carriage 6 for pivotal movement, and is rigidly connected to the letter bracket 4.

By reason of the sliding connection between the cam bar I4 and the guide sleeve I3, it will be evident that the letter carriage B will be given a relatively long transverse movement or travel across the frame of the sign, but the angularity of the rod I8 is greatly reduced when the carriage is in a substantially mid position, as indicated in Fig. 3. This reduces the degree of tilting of the letter, which is necessary.

The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided to correspond with each letter, and the parts are all assembled so that the mechanisms driving the letters are in different phases, that is to say, these mechanisms operate to progressively reciprocate the letters in a graduated Way. In other words, in any instant, the letter R for example, of the sign PROGRESS will have its carriage advanced out of line with the letter P but not quite as far advanced as the next letter "O of the sign. The letter R will be tilted but not as greatly as the letter O." In other words, these mechanisms control the letters so that the effect is attained of a wave passing through the word.

Any means may be employed for effecting the tilting of the letter through the agency of the connecting rod I8. In the present instance the connecting rod is rigidly secured to a pin I9 that rotates freely in the carriage 6, and this pin is rigidly secured to the arm 5 of the letter carriage.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the shafts II that actuate the letters. In the present instance, this is accomplished by providing a worm shaft 20 extending longitudinally within the casing I and having a Worm 2l corresponding to each letter. Each of these worms 2I drives a Worm wheel 22 housed in a suitable casing 23 and rigidly connected with the shaft I I that has its lbearing in the casing. The cam I2 is supported `fon Ithe casing 23 fand the casing u23 is supported on .a bracket at its ,left as illustrated :in lEig. 4.

fIn `Figs. -6, 7v1and .8, .I .illustrate the invention as applied Yto :a horizontal Lsign having a casing 24 .carryingletters 25 on .its forward face, which are `guided Ato :move transversely .to the -direction in I.which the Vword extends, that :is ,to say, transversely to Lthe .longitudinal axis `of thesign casing. 24. In .the .present instance, instead of vhaving a .single slot .through .the rface plate of the sign casing. .I may provide two slots 2li-corresponding to `.each letter. This ywill enable a more secure attachment vto ,the backs .of the letters to be eifected. The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and )8 .is substantially .the sameas that indicated in Figs. V1-.4 inclusive, -thatis to say, I :provide .a iixedcam 21-at thecenter of .whichafguide sleeve 2.8 ,rotates .on an axis at right angles to the plane of the;cam,said `guidesleeveZt operating torotate .a .cam .rod .29 through the agency of 'the' cam wheel 3.0 .running in the-cam. Fig. 7 illustrates .the `mechanism .in .anfextreme position With the'letter P .carried Aby the .letter bracket 3| :in its ,most .depressed position. .As the sleeve 28 :rotates Athe letter carriage 32 reciprocates in la vertical =direction, being .guided on the :guide bars 33. I'Ihe weight .of vthe carriage and the connecting rod .34 and cam bar 29, is counterbalanced in the present instance by means yof a Vcoil spring same tilting effects for the @letters y'are obtained,

and the momentum of the yparts in a downward movement is `counterbalanced vby the coil spring 35 attached at its upper Iend to .the upper 'wall Aof the casing vand v`attached at its lower :end to the letter bracket.

`Referring to Fig. 1:8, .in the present instance the letter bracket 3l has two arms r35S that project `respectively through the .slots `2li, that attach to the letters 25. If it is desired to conceal the presence of the'slots 26 ort, this can be accomplished by means .of `a screen plate such `as the screen plate j31 -.(see Fig. f8), `which is `of v-diskforrn .and which extends `across the back of the face :plate `of the fsign between the remote .edges of `each pair `of slots 2-6 corresponding to each letter. These .screen plates, of course, should have slots .38 parallel Withthe Vslots inthe face ofthe sign to make clearance vfor the pin .3B `to which the .connecting rod 34 is rigidly attached,

and which rigidly carries the letter bracket f3.1.

:In Fig. 5 I illustrate the 'double-sided construction :for the `sign referred to above, butwith 4single slots 8a :in the lface plates fof the vsign .corresponding to 4the construction illustrated LinFig. 1. These slots 8a may be 'coveredon the inside by ,shields 31a corresponding 'totheshilds 31 of Fig. 8.

The guide vbars 'that `guide the :letter carriages are preferably formed -oi 1U Yacross-section, .so as to .present convex outer faces V 40 .(see Fig. :8.) against 'which the faces fof the guide rollers 4l rest. This gives Aconsiderable strength with ylightness to theseguide cars.

In all types'of this sign, the driveshaft suchias the shaft ,20 .for "driving the letter actuating mechanisms, may Vbe :actuated `through .a reduction gear 42 `driven by an electric motor 43 (see Eig. 2). However, it should lbe understoodthat any ,other source of 'power :may be employed.

vIn Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, 'I illustrate another embodiment of inventionito .reduce the friction of driving the `letters 'to :and iro, and ftilting the same. In 1.this construction theletter carriage x44 is-com-posedoi a body `45 and -a :slide 46. .The body 45.is mounted on'rollerslilfto run .on iguide bars 48. The slide46 A'carries the weight of the letter, which letter is attached to the 'letter bracket 49. This slide V46 operates as .-a ,hanger for imparting the weight of the letter bracket and yletter 'to the upper rollers A41a of the four rollers 4.1, :and for Ythis purpose the .upper end of the Aslide 46 :carries -a rigid hanger bar `5l) that rests .on Vthe upper -sides of the rollers 41a. :In this mechanism `I also Adispense with the use .of the rotary guide sleeves Ysuch 'asfshown at .281in Fig. 17, and -I provide a cra-nkarm 451 attached rigidly to the vshaft AT52 of the worm wheel `53 which is driven from the worm shaft 54. 'The end of thiscrankarm 5"! is .pivotallyattached 'to a connecting :rod 155, and Tthis connecting rod `is attached .by aipivotgpin 56 to the 'slide y4.6. "This will eiiect the reciprocationzo'f the letter :bracket which is carried lon the slide t6. Through the medium of `a @point lon the connecting rod iremoved Afrom the pivotal connection r5.6., I effect the .tilting :of the .letter bracket 49. This letter bracket is rigidly attached to the rock .shaft :5H (see Figs. 10 and 11) said'rock shaft having .la rigid'arm with asslot 59'in `itsouter end, which Y is engaged by :a pin 6I) carried on ashort arm 65| projecting laterally Yfrom `thelen'd .of ,the l.connecting rod that :is adjacent to .the slide. With .this arrangement it will be evident .that .the angular movement imparted .to 'the :letter attached to .the

letter bracket 49, will `be considerably less than the angular movement oi :the .connecting :rod "55. This enablesa letter to havethe 'desired'travellin reciprocating, but .reduces the .tilting of fthe lietters to lpractical limits.

With the Amechanism Ajust `described, it is desirable to provide `means 'lor maintaining the slide -46 :in a :mid positionrelation with frespectto the body l"15.5 when the .slide should be 'in'its mid position relation, ,as illustrated in Fig. 10. In other Words, I .provide a mechanism to apreven't any creeping movement of this .slide 46 .toward one 'end or :the other of the 'Wheeled body t5. Any :suitable :means may be provided for this purpose. In :the presentinstance, I provide the lower side `oi? the :body '4;5 with .a bracket 62 formed of two links connected Eby a pin 63, which operates as a 'rocking axis lfor a lever 64. The upper end of this lever has a yoke that engages the rock shaft'l, `and the lower end has Va similaryoke 66 that engages a `pm 61 fixed inline with :the .mid point of `the travelof the carriage. With this arrangement it will 'beevident that the slide Acan move 'freely'to and iro, `but cannot creep in either direction with yrespect tothe bcdy V45.

Fig. 1S-illustrates the .same type of mechanism that is :illustrated lin Figs. y9 and 1'0, ibut applied to a horizontal sign 68. Each letter of this sign carries mechanism .69 "for the letter, and in order to counterweight the carriage body im, the 'slide 1.| and parts carried thereby, the crank 'I2 is counterweighted "by means of Aa .tail `arm '13 -carryingzarcounterweight 14. A shaft 15 ycarrying the crank :arm 12 iis vdriven :continuously `through a Warm shaft 116 rand worm wheel 11. v"This mech- 'Y anism performs in :exactly the same way las that illustrated lin Figs. 9 and `l0, except that it reciprocates the letter lin a vertical direction and provides for counterweighting the mechanism andthe letter. nEigs. `14 and 215 'I rillustrate a cam-controlled type of drive for the sign having some similarity to the cam driving mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, but as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, I provide means for urging the cam roller around the ends of the cam. This insures easy operation of the mechanism. It should be understood that Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the same mechanism, but Fig. 14 illustrates the carriage in a position Where the cam roller is being urged across the upper end of the cam; and Fig. 15 shows the cam roller being urged across the lower end of the cam. The direction of rotation is anticlockwise; in this construction 18 indicates the letter bracket which is rigidly secured ot a rocking pin or rock shaft 19, said rock shaft being rigidly attached to a bell crank lever having a cam arm 89 with a roller 9| to run in the runway of the cam 82. The carriage 93 is reciprocated by means of a connecting rod 84 connected at its upper end t a crank arm 85 rigid with the shaft 86 of a warm wheel driven by the worm shaft 81. The lower end of the connecting rod is attached by a pivot pin 88 to the carriage 19 above the location of the letter bracket 19. The bell crank lever referred to above as having the arm 89, also has an arm 89. As the carriage is guided in its reciprocation on the guide bars 99, the cam roller 8| runs around in the cam, thereby imparting tilting movement to the letter bracket through the rocking pin 83. When the carriage is arriving at the upper limit of its travel, the arm 89 engages a bumper pin 9|, which is in the form of a long stem pressed outwardly by a coil spring 92. This spring becomes compressed as the roller 8| arrives at the upper end of its travel in the cam, and at the highest point of the cam rollers travel the spring exerts its force to give an impulse or urge to the roller over toward the left side of the cam, as viewed in Fig. 14. At the lower end of the travel of the carriage, the arm 89 strikes a similar bumper pin 9|a having a spring 92a. This spring 92a is compressed in the same manner as the spring 92, and operates to urge the cam roller across to the right side of the cam. In Fig. the arm S9 is illustrated in engagement with this bumper.

Figs. 14 and 15 also illustrate a different type of cam which I may employ to attain a self-cleaning effect for the cam. Instead of making this cam out of plate channel-form, the cam is formed of round iron or steel bars including an outer bar 93 and an inner bar 99. The cam roller 8| is of plain cylindrical form. These bars 93 and 94 are connected together by offset bars 95 that are rigidly secured to their outer sides with respect to the roller. Certain of these brace bars may be secured to horizontal frame bars 9S (see Fig. 15). In the horizontal sign 'in which the letters reciprocate vertically, the carriage and the letter, and the attached parts, can be counterweighted by means of a cord 91 attached to the carriage and extending upwardly and over two sheaves 9S beyond which the pendant end of the cord carries a counterweight 99.

In Figs. 17 and 18 I illustrate a use of my invention to control the letters of a sign from a remote point, and preferably from a point just below the sign. This adaptation of the invention is particularly useful in a situation where, for example, a sign is carried above a fire-wall of a building, with a mechanism for controlling the letters of the sign mounted on the roof just back of the lire-Wall. In this construction, and referring to Fig. 17, I provide a carriage |99, which is xeciprocated in a vertical direction on guide bars |9|, through the mediumof a connecting rod |92 attached to a crank |93 driven through a worm wheel |94 and worm |95. The carriage |99 carries a rocker pin |99 mounted to rock on the same above the pivot pin |91 that attaches the connecting rod to the carriage. This rocker pin |99 is rocked through a decreased angle by means of a connection to a, point on the rod |92 removed from the pivot pin |91. In the present instance, I provide a small roller |93 on the side of the connecting rod that engages a yoke or fork end on an actuating lever |99 that is rigidwith the rocker pin |96. Also rigid with this rocker pin there is provided a double-armed rocker lever ||0 pivotally carrying the yrods of pistons, which pistons reciprocate respectively in two barrels ||2, the lower ends of said barrels being pivotally supported on pivot pins 3. With this construction, as the rocker ||9 rocks to and fro, it will alternately force iluid out of the cylinders and, up through two hose M, said hose being attached to the lower ends of barrels ||5 similar to the barrels I2, and these barrels carry pistons with rods H9 pivoted to the rocker ||1 that is rigid with a letter bracket I8 rigid on a rocking pin ||9 that attaches the rocker and the letter bracket on the letter carriage |29, said letter carriage being guided vertically on suitable guide bars |2|. With this arrangement the letter bracket ||8 will have substantially the same movements imparted to it that are described by the rocker H9, but the direction of these movements will be reversed. This, of course, is of no consequence because the same reversal will apply to all the letters of the sign.

With this construction the barrels l5 may be located above the upper edge of the fire-wall indicated by the dotted line |22.

It will be evident that if it is not necessary to provide for a remote control of the letters of the sign, the letter bracket could be attached directly to the rocker i9.

In Fig. 18 I provide for a remote control similar to that illustrated in Fig. 17, but requiring a single barrel or pump |23. In this construction the carriage |24 reciprocated in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 17, operates the piston |25 of the iixed pump barrel |23. The lower end of the pump barrel |23 is connected by a hose |26 to the lower end of a similar pump barrel |21. The alternate rise of the operating uid in the barrel |21 will reciprocate the piston rod |28, which rod is pivotally attached to a carriage |29, which reciprocates on the vertical guide bars |39. At a point on the carriage |29 a letter bracket |3| is pivotally mounted on a suitable rocker pin |32, said rocker pin being rigid with a cam arm |33 carrying a roller |34 running in a vertical elongated cam |35. rIhe direction of travel is anti-clockwise. If desired, means may be provided for urging the roller |34 along the cam at the upper and lower end of its travel. For this purpose a bumper |36 would be provided, which is resiliently urged in an upward direction by a coil spring |31. At the limit of the downward travel of the roller |39, the head of this bumper |39 will be engaged by the lower edge of the letter bracket li, thereby compressing the spring, and as soon as the roller |39 has arrived at the extreme lower end of the cam, the spring |31 will exert an upward thrust on the bumper |31 that will carry the roller |39 over into the right side of the cam. A similar bumper can be provided, if desired, for the upper end of the cam, but thisis hardly necessary because the action of gravity will assist in getting the roller across the'upper end of the cam.

The general mode of operation of the invention Will noW be stated:

Int-he embodiment illustrated in Figs. 13, the rotation of the shaft |I (see Fig. 4) vrotates the sleeve I3 and causes the cam roller I5 to travel around in the cam I 6, thereby varying the virtual length .of the crank constituted by the portion of the cam bar between vthe pivot pin and the shaft I I.v In this Way theconnecting rod I8 will cause the reciprocation of the carriage 6 carrying the letter of the sign, but at the same time, reducing the tilting angle of the letter which is carried on the letter bracket 4, and which is rigid with the pin I9. As this pin I6 is also rigid with the connecting rod I8, the Atilting of the letter, of course, corresponds tothe angularity of the connect'ing rod I8. The construction sho-wn in Figs. 6, 7 Vand 8, is substantiallysimilar to this, and has substantially the same mode of operation except that the Weight of the letter bracket and letter and attached parts, is counterweighted vby means of the coil spring 35. It is understood, ofcourse,

that if desired, instead of using a spring for this purpose, a .counterweight may be employed such as illustrated in Fig. 13, or as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 9-12, the rotation of the crank reciprocates the letter carriage, and as the angular position of the connecting rod 55 changes, its short arm 6| rocks the lever arm 58, which is rigid with the letter bracket 49. In this embodiment of the invention, the Weight of the letter bracket and letter, is carried on the reciprocating slide 46 to which the connecting rod 55 is attached, and the bar 50 carried by this slide rests on the upper sides of the upper pair of rollers 41a. The rollers 41a, of course, roll on the upper one of the horizontal guide bars 48. rI his arrangement reduces friction. The body 45 carrying the rollers 4l, is maintained against creeping toward one end or the other, by means of the lever 64 that maintains it in a mid position whenever the slide 46 is in mid position, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Y 1

In Fig. 13, the construction is substantially the same as in Figs. 9 and 10, and the sign has the same mode of operation except that Fig. 13 shows a horizontal type of sign, and the letter bracket and attached .parts are counterweighted by the counterweight 14.

AIn the construction shown in Figs. 14 `and 15, the letter carriage is reciprocated in a vertical direction by the crank 85 and connecting rod 84, and as this takes place the roller 8| carried on the arm 80, traveling around in the cam, operates to tilt the letter bracket 'I8. At the ends of the travel, the arm 89 strikes the bumpers 9| and 9Ia respectively, and the springs of these bumpers urge the roller 8| to cross the vertical axis of the cam. The weight of the letter bracket, letter, and attached parts, is counterbalanced by the countervveight 99.

In the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 17, as the carriage I0 reciprocates, the connecting rod |62 tips the rocking Vpin and rocker III), thereby alternately operating, the pump cylindersA ||2 that operate the cylinders |I5 to rock the rocker and also reciprocate the same. The movements of the pistons ||6 not only determine the tilting of the letter bracket |I8, but also the vertical travel of the same.

In Fig. 18 the remote `control lattained by the Construction shown in Fig. 17, is obtainedthrough the-medium 'ofa single hose and a single cylinder `|2| at the sign. The cylinder |21 reciprocates the carriage |29 and the `reciprocation vof this carriage through the Ymedium of the cam arm |33, rocks the letter bracket I3I.

It is. evident that a sign embodying this inventionwill attract attention in the day time as Well as at night. The -faces of the letters should, .of course, be of a color 'to contrast Well with the color ofthe casing back of theletters.

The faces of the letters may carry illuminating means, preferably employing tubes of radiantgas of the neon type. The wires connecting to the A terminals of the sign should, of course, be given suilicient slack to permit the 'free movement of the Vletters.

It is also obvious that itis not essential to reciprocate the letters perpendicularly to the axis of the word. They could be reciprocated in an inclined direction if desired.

Instead `of mounting letters on the letter carri'ers, I may mount sections of a figure; for example, a serpent or a dragon. When lthe carriers for these sections are operated, it is evident that the effect will produce a Wave passing down the body of the animal represented by the figure.

It is understood that the embodiments ofthe invention described herein are only a few of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

1. In a moving sign, the combination of a plurality of parts forming a composite ligure with its side disposed in a substantially vertical plane, means for supporting the parts, means for moving the said parts progressively to and fro in a substantially vertical direction and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sign, `and means cooperating therewith for progressively tilting the said parts in said substantially vertical plane, and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sign to give the elect of a Wave passing longitudinally through the sign.

2. In a moving sign, the combination of a plurality of letters forming a word, means for supporting the letters, means for moving the letters progressively to and fro in a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the Word, means cooperating therewith for progressively tilting the letters with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sign to give the effect of a Wave passing longitudinally through the Word, and means for counterbalancing the letters.

3. In a moving sign, the combination oi an elongated frame, a plurality of letter-carriages mounted on said frame, means for guiding said letter-carriages to move transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame, means for reciprocating the letten-carriages progressively on their guiding means, letters carried respectively by the letter-carriages, and forming a word, and means for progressively tilting the letters with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame to give the etfect of a Wave passing through the word.

4, In a moving sign, the combination of an elongated frame-plate having a plurality of transverse slots therethrough, a plurality of lettercarriages, means for guiding the same at the back of the plate transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plate,` letterbrackets supported on the carriages and capable of tilting thereon, letters carried respectively by the letter-brackets and forming a Word, means for reciprocating the letter-carriages progressively on their guiding means, and means for progressively tilting the letters with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sign to give the effect of a wave passing through the Word.

5. In a moving sign, the combination of an elongated frame-plate havingl a plurality of transverse slots therethrough, a plurality of letter carriages, means for guiding the same at the back of the plate transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plate, letter brackets pivotally supported on the carriages, means for progressively reciprocating the letter carriages on their guiding means, and means for progressively tilting the letters ontheir pivotal supports to give the effect of a Wave passing longitudinally through the Word formed by the letters.

v6.'In a moving sign, the combination of an elongated frame, a plurality of letter carriages mounted on said frame with means for guiding same to move transversely Yto the longitudinal axisv of the frame, letters mounted to tilt respectively on the letter carriages, and cammeans corresponding to the different letter carriages operating'to effect a progressive reciprocation of thecarriages on the guiding means, and a tilting movementv of the letters on the letter carriages, to give the eiect of a Wave passing longitudinally through the word formed by the letters.

7.111 a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a word, the combination of a frame, a letter` carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, a xed cam, a connecting rod attached at one end to the letter carriage, a cam-follower rotatable about an axis and controlled by the cam, and means connecting said cam-follower with the other end of the connecting rod operating to decrease the angularity of the connecting rod when the letter carriage is at substantially mid-position in its travel; and a letter mounted on the carriage and controlled by the connecting rod so that the position of the connecting rod determines the tilted position of the letter.

8. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a word, the combination of a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, a fixed cam, a rotatable guide sleeve adjacent the cam, a cam bar guided through the guide sleeve and having means at one-end engaging the cam and guided thereby, a connecting rod attached to the said cam bar at one end of the connecting rod and attached at the other end tothe letter carriage to reciprocate the same when the guide sleeve is rotated, and a letter pivotally mounted to tilt on the letter carriage and connected with the connecting rod so that the angular position of the connecting rod determines the tilting of the letter. l

v9. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a Word, the combination of a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, a fixed cam, a guide sleeve mounted to rotate adjacent the cam and having its own axis disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cam, a cam-follower comprising a cambar guided to slide through the guide sleeve and having a roller at one end engaging the Cam and guided thereby, a connecting rod attached at one end to the cam-bar on the opposite side of the sleeve from the roller and pivotally attached at its other end to the lettercarriage, a letter-bracket pivotally mounted on the letter-carriage and rigid with the connecting rod, and a letter carried thereby, said parts cooperating to reciprocate the carriage transversely to the frame and to tilt the letter on an axis on the carriage.

10. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a Word, the combination of an elongated substantially horizontal frame, a lettercarriage, means for guiding the letter-carriage in a substantially vertical direction on the said frame, a fixed cam, a guide sleeve mounted on the axis of the cam, and having its own axis disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cam, a cam-follower including a cam-bar guided to slide through the guide sleeve and having a roller at one end engaging the cam and guided thereby, a connecting rod pivotally attached at one end to the said cam-bar and pivotally attached at its other end to the letter-carriage, a letter-bracket pivotally mounted on the letter-carriage, a letter carried thereby, means connecting the letter-bracket with the connecting rod so that as the connecting rod reciprocates the carriage it tilts the letter on the letter-carriage.

11. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a Word, the combination of a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, a cam elongated on a diameter thereof, means for reciprocating the letter carriage, a letter pivotally mounted on the letter-carriage, a cam-follower running in the cam, means connecting the same with the letter to cause the letter to tilt on its carriage, and resilient means for urging the camfollower along the cam at the ends of the cam. Y

l2. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a word, the combination of a frame, a letter carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, means for reciprocating the carriage on its guiding means, a relatively xed cam, a letter mounted on the letter-carriage and capable of tilting thereon, a cam-follower running in the cam and connected with the letter for tilting the same pro-4 gressively as the carriage reciprocates.

13. In a movable sign composed of movable letters forming a word, the combination of a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse to the direction in which the Word extends, means for reciprocating the carriage on its guiding means, a relatively xed cam, a letter mounted on the letter-carriage and capable of tilting thereon, a cam-follower running in the cam and connected With the letter for tilting the same progressively as the carriage reciprocates, said cam being elongated in the direction in which the carriage reciprocates; and means cooperating with the cam-follower to urge the cam-follower forwardly at the ends of the cam.

14. In a moving sign composed of movable letters forming a Word, the combination ofl a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame in a direction transverse' a cam-follower including a bell-crank lever having an arm With means running in the cam, said letter and said bell-crank lever mounted to rock on the said carriage, said bell-crank lever having a second arm; and spring-urged bumpers at the ends of the travel of the carriage for engaging the second-named arm of the bell-crank lever for urging the cam-follower forwardly at the ends of the cam, the said cam being elongated in the direction in which the carriage reciprocates.

15. In a movable sign composed of movable letters forming a word, the combination of a frame, a letter-carriage, means for guiding the carriage on the frame transversely to the direction in which the Word extends, said carriage including a body with rollers running on said guiding means and including a slide movable relatively to the body, said slide having guiding means engaging the outer sides of said rollers, a letter mounted to tilt on the letter-carriage, and means for reciprocating the carriage and for tilting the letter.

16. In a moving sign, the combination of a plurality of parts forming a composite figure with its side disposed in a substantially vertical plane, means for supporting the parts, means for moving the said parts progressively to and fro in a substantially vertical direction and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sign, and means distinct from the supporting means for positively guiding the said parts in said substantially vertical plane to tilt the said parts progressively during said to and fro movement to give the eiiect of a Wave passing longitudinally through the sign.

17. In a moving sign, the combination of a plurality of letters forming a Word, means for supporting the letters, means for moving the letters progressively to and fro in a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the Word, means distinct from the supporting means for positively guiding the said letters to tilt the same progressively during said to and fro movement and thereby giving the effect of a wave passing longitudinally through the word; and means for counterbalancingthe letters.

18. In an animated display, the combination of a plurality of spaced characters disposed along a longitudinal axis; driving means; supporting means individually supporting each character; a plurality of similar driving linkages actuated by the driving means and progressively moving the characters individually over similar paths each having a component substantially transverse to said axis; means cooperating With each of the linkages progressively tilting said characters individually about a transverse axis transverse to both said longitudinal axis and said components; means drivngly connecting the drive means with the drive linkages and the tiltingV means to maintain the characters in predetermined out of phase positions with respect to each other to produce the appearance of a wave-like motion passing longitudinally along the successive characters.

ROLLA B. FERREBY. 

